NOTES FROM FAITH MISSION GOSPEL MISSION GARVAGH
THURSDAY 28 MAY 2021 ANDREW McCULLAGH
EPHESIANS 2 VERSES 1 - 10
It has been said that every picture tells a story. It is a wonderful gift to have, to take a blank canvas and have the patience to paint a picture capturing a scene. Perhaps you have marvelled at famous paintings. Here in these verses Paul sketches for us some pictures. In fact he presents a trio of pictures that relate to each other. What we are by nature but what we can become by grace.
The first describes a sinner and their guilt - verses 1 - 3. It is very dark and depressing. The colour scheme is black and grey. Paul reminds these people how God saw them prior to salvation - no brightness or beauty. As we view humanity in a sinful state there are 6 words used to describe someone who was not a Christian - "you were dead in trespasses and sins." The natural man has no consciousness of God in his life, no communication with him. The problem is the same the world over. There are 2 interesting words in verse 1 - "trespasses" meaning sins of commission, the wrongs we have done. The Bible describes it as "all we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way." (Isaiah 53 verse 6) It doesn't take us to be a farmer to know sheep wander. Each of us have stepped out of line, we have went out of bounds, rebelled against God, broken his commandments. "There is none righteous no not one."(Romans 3 verse 10) The second word used in verse 1 is "sins" which are the sins of omission. A failure to do that which is right. It is a word taken from the sport of archery meaning an arrow that has fallen short of the target. We cannot reach God's standard. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3 verse 23) This is the description of everyone. Sin is a serious problem. Paul then adds these people were deceived "you walked according to the course of this world according to the the prince of the power of the air." These people were under the spell of the devil. Evil governed their lives. Perhaps you think you are in control of your life in all you say and do. You are under a power greater than your own. Jesus said "whoever commits sin is the servant of sin." (John 8 verse 34) Think of the man from Gadara in Mark 5. He was literally living among the dead. He had a fearsome reputation in the community. Neither he nor anyone could break the devils grip on his life. Only Jesus could do that for him. Only Jesus could do that for you. The word "air" represents a foggy atmosphere. When fog comes down we cannot see where we are going. In the spiritual sense maybe the devil has his hold over you and you cannot see your spiritual need. Another word that describes a person without Christ is they are marked by disobedience - verse 2 "now worketh in the children of disobedience." We are sons of the disobedient one who is the devil. Jesus said of the Pharisees in John 8 verse 44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar and the father of it." This rebellious attitude can be traced back to Genesis 3. Their God put the first human beings in a perfect environment, he provided everything for life, gave them laws to live by but Adam sinned. "As by one man disobedience many were made sinners."(Romans 5 verse 19) That is why man disobeys, that is why man is self centred - because of the fall, because of sin. Paul tells us we are depraved - verse 3 "among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind." People are capable of all kinds of evil. This is how the bible describes it. "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it." (Jeremiah 17 verse 9) Talking of our spiritual condition. The heart is the problem is the problem of the heart. That is why we need a new nature by trusting God for salvation. Even our best is not enough. "All our righteous acts are like filthy rags" because of all of these things. (Isaiah 64 verse 6) Paul tells us in verse 3 "and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." It is important to realise the seriousness of sin. God is perfect and just. He is offended by sin and he must punish the evil doer. The sinner is facing judgment, everlasting separation from God. John 3 "he that believes in the son has everlasting ife and he who does not believe the wrath of God is on him." (John 3 verse 36) The sentence has been passed. God is delaying that day of execution, giving you an opportunity to get right with him. That is the only ray of light you see in this dark picture. A real reflection of who we are and where we stand with God.
The second picture is of the Saviour and his grace - verses 4 - 7. God's beautiful masterpiece. It is a more stunning picture after the previous picture. When the jeweller wants to display a beautiful diamond he places it on a dark cloth so that it sparkles more. That is what Paul says "But God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us." (verse 4) An amazing work of salvation for you. He was rich yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich. That is what the Lord can do for you. There is a great loving in verse 4. We can begin to comprehend or consider the depths of God's love. We see the great heart of God to sinners - John 3 verse 16. Even though we are weak and wayward in our sin he loved us so much he went to the cross. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." (Romans verse 8) In verse 5 we see life giving "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved)." On 3 occasions during his earthly ministry Jesus raised people from the dead. He done what no-one else could do. He alone had the power to impart spiritual life. He went further enduring death itself so we could be raised to newness of life, triumphing over the grave. Jesus rose to guarantee eternal life for all who would trust in him. "I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10 verse 10) Verse 6 lifting "And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." What a change in position. we can be brought out of the dungeon and into the palace. "He brought me up out of a horrible pit and established my steps." (Psalm 40 verse 2) Have you been delivered by Jesus? Perhaps you are asking how can I be saved, made right with God, sure of heaven?
The third and final picture is our view of salvation and its gift - verses 8 and 9. He is what God offers to you tonight. It is unmerited. The word grace occurs 3 times in verses 5, 7 and 8. What is grace - the unmerited favour of a loving God, something that you need but don't deserve but God gives freely. God's richness at Christ's expense. Sin offended him but he put in place a rescue plan to deliver us from death. Where sin abounded grace did much more abound. A drowning person cannot save themselves. They need a lifeline thrown out. Neither are we able to make us right with God. He came to free us from our sin. Nothing that we could do. That is the difference between Christianity and other world religions. God wants us to trust in him. The human mind reasons that there are continuous boxes to tick, that there are rules and regulations to be kept but it is faith alone in Jesus to meet your need. A woman believed that if she could just touch the edge of Jesus' garments she would be healed. A blind beggar pleaded for mercy as he sat by the roadside one day. A man believed if Jesus just spoke the word his sick servant would be cured. Have you exercised that faith, believed on the Lord Jesus and been saved? Grace is God's part in salvation and faith is ours. Grace is the remedy for our sin and faith is taking the medicine. Grace is the gift of heaven and eternal life. Faith is our hand reaching up for it. All come the same way. Faith in the finished work of Jesus upon the cross. To emphasise salvation is a gift. God states it is unattainable by our efforts. Verses 8 and 9 "that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast." So many people sincerely believe they must do their best. If somehow they do enough then that set of scales will tip in our favour and earn us a place in heaven. People think God will look favourably on what they have done but this is a gift. How would you feel if someone asked how much they needed to pay for the gift you presented them with? It would bring anguish and offence. You have to simply reach out and receive it. "The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6 verse 23) There is no room for pride. Everyone is on equal ground no matter who you may be. You have to come as a sinner to the cross.
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